The Champions League draw in Monaco unveiled a series of exciting rematches of recent finals, setting the stage for a thrilling new format in European soccer's premier competition. Real Madrid, fresh off their past three Champions League title wins, will face off against Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in an eight-game schedule for each team, following the abolition of the traditional group stage.
Madrid, boasting the addition of France superstar Kylian Mbappé, will host Dortmund and travel to Liverpool in highly anticipated matchups. Manchester City will also have a reunion with Inter Milan, whom they defeated to claim the European title in 2023.
Bayern Munich will host Paris Saint-Germain in a rematch of the 2020 final, while defending champion Madrid's opponents include AC Milan, Salzburg, Stuttgart, Atalanta, Lille, and debutant Brest.
The draw ceremony, graced by Cristiano Ronaldo, allocated opponents for all 36 teams in the expanded and lucrative Champions League, with a prize money fund exceeding 2.5 billion euros. The new single-standings league format will see each team play eight games against different opponents through January, with the top eight advancing directly to the round of 16 in March.
Manchester City's schedule includes matches against PSG, Juventus, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, Sparta Prague, and Slovan Bratislava. Bayern Munich will face Barcelona and Aston Villa, while Liverpool will take on Bayer Leverkusen in a standout match of the expanded league phase.
The new format, designed to provide more competitive matches and a wider variety of high-profile opponents, was welcomed by influential clubs seeking a change from the predictable old group stage. The league phase will feature 144 games, with an additional knockout playoffs round in February, making a total of 189 games for the competition.
This edition of the Champions League introduces unexpected entries from the big-five domestic leagues, adding an element of surprise and excitement to the tournament. With historic clubs returning and debutants making their mark, the stage is set for a captivating season of European football.
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